Short-eared Owl 16 inches

This crow-sized owl is usually silent, but if you listen closely, you'll hear its characteristic call. Unlike many owls, which nest in tree cavities, the Short-eared Owl nests in a grass-lined depression in the ground. Watch for it late in the afternoon as it ventures out for a night of hunting small rodents. It has been called the "most aerial owl" for its acrobatic flight and so it is sometimes confused with the Northern harrier - a hawk common to wet prairies of the Northern Plains.